Activation process analysis of the localized agri-food system using social networks

Abstract

The objective of the work was to analyse the prevailing activation process of the Localized Agri-food System (LAS) by using social networks as a tool to value the pre-existing social capital. Th ere were 27 producers of “Chiapas Cream Cheese” and the members of the formal cheese maker organization from the state of Chiapas, Mexico that were interviewed. By the means of cluster analysis and the graphic design of friendship, the kinship, the “compadrazgo” knowledge, the collaboration and cooperation networks, we concluded that the structural activation must transcend the formal creation of an organization. It is best to value and then mobilize the pre-existing social capital in a territory with a specific traditional know-how as a foundation to the structure and activation process of the LAS. Four actors were identifi ed for their active participation in all analysed networks; these were the information diff users and network structures. Weak links in the cheese maker organization favour the innovation adoption; whereas the strong links maintain the know-how.